The short answer
In Edinburgh, a full kitchen renovation from a proper fitter (strip out, electrics, plumbing, cabinets, worktops, tiling and finish) usually lands in one of three brackets:
- Compact tenement / galley kitchen: ~£8,000–£13,000 all-in.
- Standard family kitchen: ~£13,000–£22,000 all-in.
- High-spec kitchen with bespoke joinery: ~£22,000–£40,000+.
Ranges cover labour, carcasses, worktops, electrics, plumbing, tiling, flooring and finishing. Appliances and handles are usually on top.
Where the money actually goes
- Cabinets & worktops (25–40%). Flat-pack, semi-bespoke or fully bespoke. Laminate, quartz and granite each move the needle significantly.
- Labour (30–45%). Strip out, electrics, plumbing, plastering, tiling, fitting, decoration. Older Edinburgh properties need more prep time.
- Electrics & plumbing (10–20%). New sockets, lighting, boiler relocation, cooker points, waste re-runs. Tenements often mean chasing walls and upgrading bonding.
- Structural & prep (5–15%). Wall removal, floor levelling, plaster repair, gas safety, building control. Factor this in before you choose the splashback.
- Appliances & extras (10–20%). Oven, hob, extractor, fridge-freezer, dishwasher, handles, lighting. Easy to upgrade later, so budget the core first.
Edinburgh tenement kitchens
Tenement flats bring character, but they also bring surprises: non-standard room shapes, plaster walls that won't take a standard wall unit, waste pipes that run the wrong way, and floors that need levelling before cabinets go in. Budget an extra £1,500–£3,000 over the standard range for the unknowns. A good fitter will spot most of this at the survey and flag it in the quote, not halfway through the job.
Showroom vs independent sourcing
A big showroom gives you a one-stop package and a shiny 3D render, but you are often locked into their range and their installers. An independent fitter can source the same — or better — cabinets and stone from trade suppliers, then fit them around your room's quirks. You typically get more flexibility for the same budget, and you deal directly with the person doing the work.
How long does it take?
A straightforward kitchen replacement runs 3–4 weeks. A full renovation with electrics, plumbing, tiling and decoration is closer to 5–8 weeks. Anyone quoting "kitchen fitted in a week" in an old Edinburgh property is probably cutting corners on prep.
Getting an accurate quote
The only way to price a kitchen properly is a site visit — half an hour with the tape measure saves months of surprises. I'll come and see it, talk you through options at your budget, and send a written quote with no pressure.
Related: kitchen services, recent kitchens, bathroom renovation costs.